Aug 18, 2009, 4:13 GMT
Berlin - Evidence of the modern world can be seen marching across the landscape on the outskirts of the town of Erkrath near Dusseldorf in western Germany. Concrete columns bear a viaduct conducting the A3 motorway across the valley of Neandertal. It was here in 1856 that building workers discovered the remains of a previously unknown species of human beings, the Neanderthals.
The valley is a nature reserve with a hiking route that follows the trail of these stone age humans. It begins on Mettmann Road and quickly leaves the bustle of traffic to reach the shoreline of the river Duessel.
Today, the Duessel gently flows through the valley but its name gives a hint of its former power. Duessel stems from the Middle High German word 'Tussila' which means the Wild One.
As the route progresses the Duessel is left behind for a time and the path meanders up the steep valley before descending again.
A short time later a sign indicates the location of a former chalk burning oven. Thanks to chalk mining that was conducted here in the past the remains of the Neanderthals were discovered but it also altered the landscape.
The countryside is littered with old quarries with high rock faces that provide ideal conditions for trees. The cool, damp climate provides the right atmosphere for ash, sycamore and elm trees and the ground is covered in a mat of ivy. From this point it is only a short walk to the spot where the first Neanderthal was found.
The Neanderthals lived 250,000 years ago in Europe. No-one was aware of their existence before the find in Neandertal 150 years ago.
A paved path acting as a timeline leads to the spot where the Neanderthal's bones were unearthed and to a museum with more information documenting the discovery.
The museum's spiral-shaped building is just a couple of hundred metres from the spot where the bones were found. The museum also marks the starting point for a path lined with sculptures that were made by 11 different artists. The path marks the second portion of the route that goes almost to the end of the nature reserve.
After passing the 'Stone age Workshop' where you can try your hand using stone age tools, the path follows the route along an Ice Age animal enclosure. The enclosure contains examples of animals that would have been the targets of Neandertal hunters such as aurochs, bisons and wild horses.
The river Duessel accompanies you along the route, sometimes closer, sometimes further away from the forest path. Fallen trees lie to the right and left and it is pleasantly cool here. It gets warmer as the path occasionally passes open fields before it finally heads to the left of the enclosure. Hikers, however, should turn right here.
The next goal of the walk is Winkel's Mill. The stream that drives the mill can be heard from far away. Behind the mill house and not far from the mill's stream are wooden benches for resting.
The next chance for proper refreshments is a few kilometres further on in Frinzberg close to the former Bracker Mill.
There are two ways of making the return journey: continue along the path beside the Duessel towards the outskirts of Gruiten and which then returns to the starting point in a large loop.
If you don't plan on making such a long walk, follow the signs marking the A5/A6 hiking routes that lead in a large curve passed Winkel's Mill and then along the animal enclosure back to where you began the walk.
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